Pocono Monday: Bad economy, big bear, smart dog

The Poconos continues to feel the effects of a bad economy. The latest victim: Pocono Lutheran Village assisted living facility, which is closing after losing $4.6 million over the last several years.

The Poconos continues to feel the effects of a bad economy. The latest victim: Pocono Lutheran Village assisted living facility, which is closing after losing $4.6 million over the last several years.

Women earn significantly less pay than men do, and that's especially the case in Monroe and Pike counties. In Pike County, women earn 59 cents to a man's dollar and in Monroe it is 57 cents, according to 2010 U.S. Census statistics.

A brush fire spread to a cabin in Timothy Lake Outdoor World in Middle Smithfield Township this afternoon, causing a propane tank to explode.

Are you hosting friends or relatives for Thanksgiving who were displaced by Hurricane Sandy? Perhaps loved ones from New Jersey or Staten Island? Tell us your story.

As retailers continue to open earlier and earlier for Black Friday, Stroud Mall is again getting in on the act. Several stores there will open at midnight; find out which ones.

Speaking of Black Friday, are you OK with the big shopping day starting on Thanksgiving? Or is that just ridiculously early? Sound off by taking our PoconoRecord.com poll.

It's not every day that a music video is made at the East Stroudsburg University football field. But on Sunday, that's exactly what happened. A hip-hop artist made a video for his song "Here Comes the Blue," which he hopes will be adopted by the New York Giants as the team's theme song.

A Hamilton Township woman has been charged with selling cocaine after Monroe County Drug Task Force members said they saw her throw cocaine from her vehicle while she was driving.

Bear season started Saturday, and it looks like the biggest prize of the year so far was in Monroe County. The 652-pound bruin was taken in Middle Smithfield Township.

Kelly Monaco is at it again. The 36-year-old, 1994 Pocono Mountain High School graduate is back on the TV show that made her a national celebrity, and so far, she's giving a repeat performance on "Dancing with the Stars."

For incoming U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, it was a crash course at the Capitol last week. The congressman-elect, whose district will include part of Monroe County, was in Washington for freshman orientation.

Meanwhile, back in Pennsylvania, more Democrats in Harrisburg could tangle Gov. Tom Corbett's next two years in office. However, following Hurricane Sandy, his approval rating is back in positive territory for the first time since March.

New York City has extended its odd-even gas rationing system through Friday. Meanwhile, rationing has ended in New Jersey and on Long Island.

Pacer, can you read this? Meet the cocker spaniel from Gilbert that has a 100-word reading vocabulary. We have video, too.

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